How to crack whole corn for cheap?

[Witches_Brew]

Anyone have a good method to crack whole corn without buying a mill? I can borrow an electric grain mill but it basically makes a powder out of the grain even at the coarsest setting.
Also off topic but I got 40 lbs of both red and white wheat for free today and was wondering if anyone has personal experience using both and prefers one.

[MichiganCornhusker]

I think you can get a Corona crank mill for less than $50. That's what I use for corn, wheat, everything. Adjustable from crack to meal. You will wanna take off the handle and power it with a 1/2" drill motor.

[Witches_Brew]

So it may be more economical to just go buy some flaked corn and keep the whole kernel for a later date? The corn was free but I'm still paying off student loans haha... not sure a mill is in my near future.

[ga flatwoods]

Go to a local Mexican Grocery store and they will have one for about $30. As course or fine as you want. May not be a Corona but works well.
Ga Flatwoods

[W Pappy]

Best way is just buy crack corn at the feed mill look up feed mills in your area.

Posting same time as flatwoods.If you is lookin for it Ga knows where to get it.

[Witches_Brew]

Well Mexican meat markets aren't exactly sparse here in tejas, so tha'll be where I check first. I guess turning it all into popcorn isn't exactly an option haha, would be interesting though.

[W Pappy]

See if can get some blue corn damn fine likker there friend.

[SassyFrass]

I've used an old sausage grinder more than once to grind corn. I used the blades for the finest grind but your arms are gonna get real tired, real quick.
Lot easier to buy cracked corn.

I'll bet some of the folks at the Mexican market would know where to get the corn ground. Especially if they make their own tortillas. Might do it for shares.

[Hound Dog]

How do you crack whole corn for cheap? Buy cracked corn. It's cheap too.

[Bagasso]

Don't know if you're up to it but you can use a hammer.

http://www.thecountrytoday.com/image_84 ... 139a9.html

[Hound Dog]

Don't know if you're up to it but you can use a hammer.

http://www.thecountrytoday.com/image_84 ... 139a9.html

Bagasso, you have wwwaaaayyyyyyy to much time on your hands.

[carbohydratesn]

Well hey, Witches_Brew was asking for cheap...and if you're looking for the cheapest way to crack corn, a hammer is the right answer

Maybe even a rock or two - and those are free!

[liquid therapy]

You can always give it to Jimmy I don't care.

[S-Cackalacky]

Where's OBX? Anybody who can invent the ass press has to have an easy solution for crackin' corn.

[W Pappy]

Where is that janitor when ya need him!

[Witches_Brew]

Maybe I should just chew it up and spit it in a bucket... Let the natural amylase do its work. who needs teeth anyway

[Bagasso]

Bagasso, you have wwwaaaayyyyyyy to much time on your hands.

I never said I was up for all that fun. The article that goes with that pic is about using a simple repetative chore to keep you busy during winter storms. We don't have any of those here in central america.

[Bob Loblaw]

Fifty pounds of cracked corn will set you back about $10. So unless you got 150 pounds or so of free whole corn, you're better off heading to the feed store than you are heading to walmart (where you can get a grain mill for $25).

[T-Pee]

Where is that janitor when ya need him!

He's for squeezin' grain, not crackin' it.

tp

[Hound Dog]

Bagasso, you have wwwaaaayyyyyyy to much time on your hands.

I never said I was up for all that fun. The article that goes with that pic is about using a simple repetative chore to keep you busy during winter storms. We don't have any of those here in central america.

Just messing with you Bagasso After being covered in more ice yesterday and getting ready to numb my fingers putting chains on my Jeep to get down the mountain so I can get to work this morning, I am jealous of your weather though.

[Bagasso]

Just messing with you Bagasso

Hey, I figured that but I didn't want anyone else to think that I was volunteering any "hammer time". Now where did I leave those parachute pants?

[Da Yooper]

Ok, check out your local Goodwill store. There you will find a paper shreder for about $5 with a few simple mods( rig up a hopper) you will have your grain mill.

[S-Cackalacky]

Ok, check out your local Goodwill store. There you will find a paper shreder for about $5 with a few simple mods( rig up a hopper) you will have your grain mill.

I did that and so did someone else here. There's a couple of threads here somewhere about it - mine included. Unless you're really desperate and have a lot of time on your hands, I wouldn't suggest it. After a lot of effort and fiddling with it, I got a pretty good grind on some whole kernel deer corn, but it's not something I want for a permanent solution. I've been saving my nickels and dimes for a hand cranked mill.

Edit: Here's the link to my thread and you'll find a link to the other "gredder" thread in the 1st post - viewtopic.php?f=83&t=52721" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow .

[W Pappy]

Where is that janitor when ya need him!

He's for squeezin' grain, not crackin' it.

tp

I figure he and that bucket and his ideas could handle it.Every other method is in the ring at this point.

[SassyFrass]

Where is that janitor when ya need him!

He's for squeezin' grain, not crackin' it.

tp

I figure he and that bucket and his ideas could handle it.Every other method is in the ring at this point.

Ain't this janitor, the fella that went on and on about koolaid?

Anyway, back on topic:

WB, just realized where you are located (roughly).
If there are feed lots in your area, you should be able to find a family owned local feed mill that may grind your corn for you. Or sprout it first, then grind it and make your own malt. You can do the same with the wheat too.

Use your local resources as much as possible. Living in farm and ranch country is a major bonus over the folks on here from the city. You should have fairly close access to resources for all kinds of ingredients, cheap or even almost free. But you gotta do the work to find these resources. Not everything is on google or the phone book, sometimes you gotta go looking.
Make sure you have a good cover story on why you want it though. Especially when dealing with folks you don't know.
Good Luck.

[T-Pee]

"I'm making beer." True after a fashion.

tp

[W Pappy]

If ya cant find a OL farmer at a bar there is some major problems going on.Ain't never not seen 2 or 3 of em swillin beer in the winter.
Great place to make some connections on corn and such.

[Witches_Brew]

Will whole corn ruin a food processor? I guess I could pre soften the kernels first.

[bellybuster]

can you not find cracked corn anywhere?? Even here in Canada its $10 for 50lbs

[Bagasso]

Will whole corn ruin a food processor? I guess I could pre soften the kernels first.

That's probably your best bet. Dry milling is ideal if going into storage but if you plan on going right into a fermentor than it wouldn't matter if the grains are hydrated.